About Me

Welcome to the new, improved version of my blog. I started this blog years ago as a natural extension of my retail shop. I’ve since closed the shop and have been flopping around in an attempt to determine a new direction. I have no real plan and make no promises, other than to share my experiences as I feel my way through the next phase of my life. I hope you find something relatable.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Okay folks! The deadline for registering for Spectacular, Spectacular! is quickly approaching, so here's an incentive for all of you fence-sitters:

Sign-up now (prior to October 3rd--NOT October 3rd--PRIOR to October 3rd) and receive a $5 discount on your registration fee. That's 4 days only folks!

But wait, that's not all!

Meet the October 3rd deadline and be registered for a drawing for a $100 shopping spree at Hodgepodge! That's right, $100 worth of Hodgepodge merchandise--yours for the choosing! (Shop my new markdowns and get 20 - 70% more bang for your buck!)

Add a link to your site, blog, or facebook and we'll throw your name in again! Do all three and you'll likely win for sure! (wink, wink)

If you do add a link, as suggested, please email me to make sure I know about it!

This is an event you don't want to miss, so just take a few minutes to visit the site--choose your classes, then look at your friends and say, "i've registered have you?"

Count down the days with this imaginative calendar.An Egyptian Spiral Bracelet

Make it in sterling silver or copper

Guardian Angels of Thoughtful Re-use

made of found objects and scraps of material,

these angels will watch over anyone who gives them new life!Silver Soldering

--learn the technique while making a pendant!

Vintage Glitter DREAM banner

made with glitter letters and vintage bits.

Feather Your Nest Collage

your creative spirit will soar with this project

Japanese Book Binding for Journals

learn to make your own journals with this beautiful, ancient technique

Vintage Inspired Filigree Necklace

made with vintage-look findings,

this necklace will be something you can hand down to your kids!

Vintage Vagabond Junque Journal

put together this creative journal using vintage bits and pieces

Altered Book with Mixed Media

learn how to turn a book into your own work of artMonogrammed Stationery Set

make a set for yourself or a friend

Button Bracelet

made using vintage buttons and beads

Vintage Inspired Christmas Ornament or Pin

make an heirloom-quality ornament or pin--or both!Ceiling Tin Jewelry Holder

use it for your jewelry or to display keepsakes

There are also two classes being taught by the wonderfully talented Jenni Bowlin. Her classes are available for Friday afternoon only. Learn more here.

Shabby Framed CollageWonderfully Vintage Altered Collage

I hope you've found something you like here. I encourage you to visit the website for details and to register for the classes you'd like to take. Class sizes are very limited, so don't put this off! Register today.

Monday, September 14, 2009

A big thanks to my friend, Martha, for keeping me motivated this weekend! I got the first coat on a new shelving unit for the shop.Chose and purchased the paint for the apartment-wanna-be-classroom in ARTifacts. (Note to self--never, ever say to the paint mixer "I don't care--you pick the paint you'd use." Apparently, they pay the paint mixer at Lowe's top dollar! Or perhaps, on commission! Mind you, I usually by the "oops" paints--so sticker shock was inevitable!)

Got a new curtain rod in the works (painted a 1.5" dowel, rather than buying a "curtain rod") to hide the stuff we don't want to see. I needed something 10 feet long; a ready-made rod, that long, isn't inexpensive! I did buy ready-made brackets and rings with clips, which will simplify the remainder of the process. You'll be shocked to read that I'm using burlap for these new curtains. I'll show pictures when it's done.

I added this grapevine garland to our back door. Darren is going to LOVE this. He adores the way I decorate with sticks!

I just wish we had an outlet outside this door--white lights would adorn this garland year-round! Don't you just LOVE that lantern though? It allows me to have much needed illumination AND it's gorgeous!

Saturday, September 12, 2009

a good dilemma--sold a table close to the end of the day on wednesday. a little bittersweet when that happens--all of the stuff that is displaced is one issue, but the fact that i rarely have something in the wings to take it's place (my store room doesn't allow for large pieces to be standing-by) is the real issue. so the gaping hole of this missing 6-foot-tooth needed to be addressed immediately.fortunately, i've had the "makings of a table" in storage . . . a heavy, vintage door and two wooden pedestal legs, salvaged from another table.i've had a "door table" in my house for seven years now. it's one of my favorite pieces of furniture. we brought back an iron table base from Germany--another weighty object adding to our already over-flowing supply of planned projects. shortly after arriving in our new home, i figured-out what i wanted to do with it. of course, using it as a table base wasn't terribly original, but i decided to top it with a door. again, i'm sure that wasn't an original thought either; without doubt, i'd seen many in my magazine stash and flea-market-style books. anyhoo, i found the door and had a large piece of glass cut to top it (a paneled door isn't a suitable surface for a glass of milk or bowl of soup--you need the glass).so here's your tutorial for making a table of your own.first, you'll need the legs. preferably, from a former table--you know they can do the job and they come ready to use (holes pre-drilled and everything!). these pedestal legs truly are the best and most commonly found. you can expect to pay upwards of $50 for legs.you'll also need a door (one of my favorite decorating "accessories"). these doors are made to hang, by their edge, from a few hinges--they are perfect for table-use. when choosing your door, be sure to look for something wide enough to seat your crew with plates and serving bowl/platters. if you are lucky enough to have a Habitat for Humanity ReStore in your area, you'll find a wide variety of doors there. If you're in the market for a chippy paint finish with other flaws, you should be able to find one for under $50.You'll also need a glass topper (so your milk doesn't topple). Take your measurement to a glass cutter--tell them you're using it for a table top, so they can recommend how thick it should be (I get 1/4" with sanded, not polished, edges)--you'll have to decide how to finish the corners. i go with a "quarter round" which means your corners will have the same curve as a quarter coin. Depending on the size of your glass, you can expect to pay upwards of $100 for this part of your table.

So, I tried something different with this table. I wanted to see if I could put it together without the screws/bolts showing. I tried lag screws first--two different sizes--two different trips to the hardware store, but that's another story. I figured-out that lag screws wouldn't work, but here are some pictures of that effort. The center of the door had a higher profile than the panels. The holes for the bolts were going to hit the panel, so I used shims to close the gaps.

I figured out I'd have to run bolts through top and bottom. Why? The lag screws only caught purchase on about a 1/4" of the door. It would work for a while, but after a few folks push back on the table, it'll start pulling the screws out. Trip number three to the hardware store. The bolts go all of the way through and are secured on the base with nuts.

I had to drill larger holes then I started with--the bolts were 3/8"--thank goodness I already had a 1/2 " bit, as the guys at the hardware store were beginning to doubt I had a clue about how to do this!

The almost finished product.

Tah dah!

Here's the table we've had in the house for seven-ish years.

Sorry for the fuzzy picture, I guess I had switched my settings by accident,

but I wanted you see the different base.

So there you go--recycle an old door and an old table base into a new table.

Have you got any recycling projects you can share?

Wait until you see all of the recycling projects we're offering at Spectacular, Spectacular! We've got some creative minds putting together some inspired projects for you!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Last month Clarksville Family published an article I wrote about Andrea Herrera's home. I hope you had a chance to catch it, but if not, use that link (an article) to read it. Unfortunately, due to lack of space, I wasn't able to share all of the pictures of Andrea's amazing talent. Here are some more--remember, while you're viewing these pictures, this is military housing!

I'm hoping Clarksville Family will continue to be interested in these decorating articles, so if you know of someone with exceptional, creative style you think I should feature--please let me know.

Andrea and her business partner, Heavenly, have their talents on display and for sale at this quaint, not-to-little shop called ARTifacts--an arts and antiques emporium. You can take advantage of their incredible talent by visiting their booth . . . often! Also, they are hosting a totally unique consignment sale October 5 - 7. Visit their website, for more information.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Almost done. As done as I'll get, anyway. I worked on the floor a lot this past week--I love this part of my job! I love pulling together the look I imagine when I buy the merchandise I offer at Hodgepodge. Believe it or not--I do see something. Every now and again, I even get to see it come to fruition.When I was selected by Country Business to participate in their Display Challenge, I didn't have the benefit of prior knowledge of the merchandise I would be displaying. It was unusual to receive merchandise I had not chosen for Hodgepodge and then to arrange it in a display that expressed Hodgepodge style. It's kind of cool to find out you can do it, though.I spent a couple days looking at the merchandise, which Patty pulled out of the boxes for me. We tossed around some ideas. I made a few things; then one Sunday, it all came together. Within another couple of days the photographer arrived with all kinds of equipment to make the display look fabulous--ready for a magazine!Here are my pictures as I put the display together:

Okay--so there it is! My 5 seconds of fame.

So now, what to do with the merchandise I received to use for this Challenge . . . how 'bout if I give it to you? You'll receive all of the merchandise you see on the table above (except the flower pots and stool), plus the garland wrapped in the wreath (serving as the canopy), and the baskets with flowers and candle on the floor in the sixth picture. In short, lots of cool stuff.

All you need to do it leave a comment here. If you mention this contest in your blog--I'll enter your name three times! For those of you who live locally, you can come in to see the merchandise and register again. So there it is . . . a simple comment to let me know you've stopped by . . . a mention on your blog improves your chances (be sure you send me a link) . . . or stop by to see me at Hodgepodge.